MEED
Issue No 38 19 - 25 September 2008
View all stories from this issue.
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Baghdad offers service deal terms for exploration round
Oil Ministry seeks international interest in first oil licences since the US invasion. -
Baghdad seeks short-term port deals before privatisation
Iraq has revised the $1bn privatisation of its deep sea port at Umm Qasr, putting short-term deals in place while plans for a longer-term concession are finalised. -
Cairo has to win back private sector confidence
The problem for Cairo is that private developers remember the debacle in 2001 when they were last in Egypt. -
Cairo to tender first private wind farm
Privately owned renewable energy plant will be built in the Gulf of Suez and have capacity of 2,500MW. -
Construction work on City of Silk faces three-year delay
Contractors blame bureaucracy for slow progress on the $58bn megaproject. -
Expertise in oil recovery secures Muscat’s future
Oil experts say boosting recovery from known fields will be one of the greatest sources of future energy. -
Financial turmoil in US dampens demand for rights issues
The number of rights issues on the Gulf’s main equity markets is expected to fall sharply over the coming year, in part because of the crisis in the US financial sector. -
Gulf counts cost of US bank collapse
Local finance houses face losses on billions of dollars worth of exposure to Lehman Brothers. -
Iraq and Kuwait in talks over $500m deal to resolve airlines dispute
Baghdad is offering to pay $500m compensation to Kuwait as the two countries edge closer to resolving the dispute between their national airlines. -
Kuwaiti firm to review Hail City plan
Prince Abdulaziz bin Mosaed Economic City in Hail could undergo a major redesign following the announcement that a Kuwaiti firm is to become the main developer of the project. -
Lehman bank collapse threatens project funding
Local firms face difficulties in securing finance as failure of Lehman Brothers drives up cost of dollar debt. -
Lehman exposure must be made public
Clarity and transparency will be important to reassure jittery markets. It will be some time before it is clear if this exposure will result in losses. -
Majors line up for Egypt gas deals despite lack of pricing terms
At least a dozen international energy companies are to bid in Egypt’s latest gas exploration round, according to industry sources, despite the oil majors having yet to be informed of the pricing terms. -
Manfouha wastewater plant privatisation faces delays
The privatisation of wastewater treatment plants in the Manfouha area of Riyadh is likely to face delays as a result of recent changes to plans for the infrastructure at the site. -
Monetary union and GCC Railway: Gulf states should swallow pride
Over recent years, GCC leaders have proved adept at making statements about the need for greater political and economic unity between the six member states. -
MTN
The South African telecoms operator is winning market share in the Middle East but profits remain elusive. -
MTN: MEED Assessment
MTN seeks profit to match the scale of operations in the Middle East -
Muscat taps the leisure market
Oman’s investment in tourism infrastructure is paying off, with visitor numbers rising and the sector on track to meet its target of generating 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2020. -
Noga shortlists oil majors for Awali deal
Occidental Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Maersk vie to more than double production at ailing oil field. -
Oil hopes fall on new techniques in Oman
With declining reserves, Oman has no option but to invest in enhanced oil recovery methods. But it could turn this to its advantage by exporting its newly acquired expertise. -
Oil price will rise again
With the US dollar gaining strength and Opec poised to cut production in the coming months, the oil price should regain some ground. -
Oman creates a gateway to shipping in the Gulf
Oman has been investing heavily in building world-class ports with industrial estates as well promoting international trade in a bid to attract investors, boost exports and diversify the economy. -
Planning drives Oman's economic growth
As the range of activities contributing to Oman’s gross domestic product widens, Sultan Qaboos’ vision of a diversified economy with a home-grown workforce is being realised -
Q&A: Phuthuma Nhleko, CEO and President, MTN
MTN is looking for clear licence conditions as it considers bids in the Middle East -
Russians confirm bid for Saudi's Haramain rail link
Russian Railways has confirmed that it remains committed to bidding for the contract to build the Haramain high-speed rail link between Mecca and Medina, despite an ongoing dispute over the country’s North-South railway. -
Samena Capital seeks billion-dollar deals
Bahrain-based investment firm Samena Capital to take minority stakes in listed companies in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. -
Saudi Arabia Sabic
The six top executives driving growth at petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries Corporation: Prince Saud bin Thenayan al-Saud, Mohamed al-Mady, Yousef al-Zamel, Charlie Crew, Homood al-Tuwaijri and Fahad al-Sheaibi. -
Saudi Arabia vindicated over oil
Falling oil prices have shown that Riyadh was right to argue that record highs earlier this year were being driven by speculation rather than a lack of supply in the market. -
Special Report: Oman - Diversification underpins growth
Oman Air’s new tagline - ‘modern vision, timeless traditions’ - sounds like so many other glib marketing slogans used by the world’s airlines. -
Submission of study puts GCC rail scheme on track for 2010 start
Decision to be released in October but debate over regulator could cause delays. -
Tackling the threat of inflation in Oman
While Muscat’s diversification strategy is fuelling an economic boom, the rising cost of living needs to be brought under control if its success is to be maintained. -
Wall Street crisis hits Gulf banks
Turmoil in the financial sector will have serious consequences for regional firms trying to raise project funding. -
Watchdog rules on Qatar mobile switching
Qatar’s telecoms regulator, ictQatar, is to force the country’s two mobile operators to make it easier for customers to switch networks.
